Chapter Six: Desperate Times
Ella’s POV
My eyes widened as Keith’s words sank in, and it was only then that I noticed Dorian’s hand still resting on Jessica’s waist. The sight of it made my stomach turn, but Dorian quickly pulled his hand away the moment he realized I was staring at him. His face was a storm of emotions–shock, guilt, and something that almost looked like fear.
The entire restaurant had turned its attention to us, their whispers growing louder by the second. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, the heat rising up my neck as I felt every set of eyes on us. This wasn’t how I’d imagined my evening, let alone my life. Faced with Keith’s questioning, Dorian remained silent, his eyes flicking between me and Jessica. She was looking at him, too, her expression unreadable, but there was something in her gaze, like she was daring him to speak up, to defend himself.
Dorian’s silence felt like a betrayal all over again. I could see the anger building in his eyes, slowly turning them red. Without warning, he stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Keith, and I saw the fire in them flare. He reached out to grab my arm, trying to pull me away from Keith, but Keith stood his ground, not moving an inch. Dorian’s hand hovered in the air, his fingers twitching with frustration. I could hear his breathing growing heavier, almost like a muffled roar, and before I could react, Dorian swung his fist at Keith.
Time seemed to slow down as Keith effortlessly dodged the punch. It
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was like watching a well–rehearsed dance and I couldn’t help but wonder if these two had done this before–fought over something, or someone. Keith stepped in front of me, shielding me behind him, his body tense and ready for the next strike.
I glanced over at Jessica, half–expecting her to intervene, but she just stood there, her expression cold and indifferent, like this wasn’t her fight. She didn’t care, not about Dorian, not about me, and certainly not about the mess we were all in. She was just another player in this twisted game. I despised her for it.
Dorian wasn’t done. His eyes were wild now, and he lunged at Keith again, but this time, I reached out, grabbing Dorian’s arm in a desperate attempt to stop him. “Dorian, stop!” I shouted, my voice trembling. Not listening, he shrugged me off with a rough push.
I lost my balance, my body twisting as I fell, and I barely had time to register what was happening before I hit the ground. My head collided with the edge of the table leg, and the pain shot through my skull. I gasped, the world spinning around me as I tried to steady myself. Everything felt too loud, too bright, and I could barely see.
Keith’s voice broke through the haze, full of worry as he called my name. “Ella!” He tried to reach me but through my blurry eyes, I saw Dorian land a punch square on Keith’s jaw. I watched in horror as Keith’s head snapped to the side, his lip splitting open, a thin line of blood trickling down his chin.
I wanted to scream, to shout for help, but the pain in my head made it impossible to think straight. All I could do was lie there, clutching the
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side of my head as the room swirled around me. The sounds of their fight, the gasps and shouts from the other patrons, all blurred together into a cacophony that drowned out everything else.
And then, out of nowhere, a woman’s voice cut through the noise, “Enough!”
Everything stopped. The tension in the air seemed to freeze as the woman strode into the room. She was striking, with blonde hair that fell in waves around her shoulders and piercing blue eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. There was something eerily familiar about her features, almost like looking into a distorted mirror, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen her before.
She marched right up to them, her presence bringing order. “I’ve already called the police,” she announced, her voice firm. “And just so you know, my father has close ties with the police chief. So, I suggest you all calm down before things get any worse.”
Her words had an immediate effect. Dorian and Keith, who had been on the verge of tearing each other apart, finally stopped. The woman’s eyes narrowed as she turned her gaze to Keith, her expression softening into something almost tender. “Baby, are you okay?” she asked, her voice dropping to a concerned whisper as she reached out to touch his arm.
I stared at them, my mind struggling to process what was happening. Who was this woman? And why was she calling Keith “baby“?
“A little help here,” I called out and seeing she was now closest to
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where I fell, she extended her hands for a raise.
“Sorry about all of this. I’m Riley Wood,” she said, her voice full of authority. “And I’m Keith’s girlfriend. He’s in bad shape now and I have to take him home. Once again, apologies.”
The words echoed in my ears, each syllable making my stomach churn. Keith’s girlfriend. He had a girlfriend this whole time, and he hadn’t said a word. The humiliation that washed over me was like nothing I’d ever felt before. If I had known, if I had even suspected that he was involved with someone else, I would never have let things go as far as they did. I wouldn’t have gotten involved with him at all.
Dorian rushed to my side, his arm sliding around my shoulders in a possessive grip. He pulled me close, asserting his dominance in a way that made my skin crawl. “Ella’s mine,” he said, his voice low and dangerous as he glared at Keith. “Stay the hell away from her.”
‘Mine‘? Keith also said this before, am I an object to them?
Keith’s eyes met mine, searching for something–an explanation, maybe, or some kind of reassurance. But I couldn’t give him either.
“Ella,” Keith said quietly, his voice filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. “Are you…are you with him?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My mind was too muddled, too full of conflicting emotions. All I knew was that I wanted out–out of this restaurant, out of this ridiculous situation, and out of whatever mess
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my life had become.
The sound of police sirens in the distance finally broke the tension, signaling that the fight was over. Riley stepped back, crossing her arms as if daring anyone to challenge her authority. “You all need to leave,” she said firmly. “The police will be here any minute, and I’m not about to get caught up in whatever this is.”
The two men hesitated, but Riley’s words left no room for argument. Keith wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before he turned and walked away. Dorian didn’t say a word as he led me out of the restaurant, his hand still gripping my arm like a vice.
I stumbled into my apartment, Dorian right behind me, I knew that there were still things left unsaid, questions that needed answers. But I won’t be the one who talked it first since Dorian betrayed me first.
The silence between us was heavy as I made my way to the bathroom. desperate for a hot shower to wash away the day’s events. But before I could even close the door, Dorian’s voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Ella,” he said quietly, his tone almost pleading. “Why were you with Keith today?”
